Major difference in mangrove growth.

[Subsea]

Time to start limiting vertical growth. I have a propagule with over one foot of growth and six large leaves in 3 months. I want to get horizontal growth. I read some posts about cutting, some have cut the growth shoot only to have a new single growth shoot grow. However, cutting below resulted in 2 new growth shoots. I’m first thinking of cutting the growth shoot, but cutting it a second time if a new single growth shoot grows back. Opinions? Where have you cut?

I think you will get good growth in the horizontal plane. When friends of mine grew pot in their back yard, to control vertical growth and spread out the bush, they pruned the bush down so it would not be seen across the fence.

Also, consider increasing light intensity, so that plant does not grow tall and straggly.

If you want to reduce ammonia, throw some seaweed into your tank.

 

[CHSUB]

Also curious as to the rate of nutrient uptake. It seems to me that mangrove would not uptake more from nutrients from roots in soil then roots in bulk water.

Very interested in the quality of the diver collected live rock that you got from TBS at Christmas

The live rock is great. There has been some die off, but overall much of the beauty remains. Including some colorful red and dark blue sponges, also a very interesting decorator crab.

I’m guessing that while it might be easier for the mangroves to uptake nutrients from soil, it is more about the availability, imo. My water’s nutrients are: no3 .0 and po4 .02. Would almost be certain that the nutrients are many, many times higher in the soil and it appears I have been successful in sequestering these nutrients.

I think you will get good growth in the horizontal plane. When friends of mine grew pot in their back yard, to control vertical growth and spread out the bush, they pruned the bush down so it would not be seen across the fence.

Also, consider increasing light intensity, so that plant does not grow tall and straggly.

If you want to reduce ammonia, throw some seaweed into your tank.

Yes, important to keep pot hidden.

The light puts out some good power and tank is in living room, so additional power might be annoying? Have been considering shading light spill, but going to keep current set up.

Ammonia is now a non issue, but been considering some macro algae? Waiting to see if something grows off the live rock, because TBS believes it will.

 

[CHSUB]

Cut growth shoot on largest mangrove propagule. Will update results.

 

[CHSUB]

Two pictures of my big mangrove.
First pic appears to be new branches, which is great because I didn't make any cuts to force this.
Second pic is the start of a second tap root. First root just popped out about 2 months ago and finally reached the water.

 

[CHSUB]

Organic Potting Soil has produced excellent results and ICP Test confirms no adverse effects. 6 months in and nearly 3 months since connecting two systems. Mangrove growth in soil over 1 foot, placed in rock not in soil 2 inches.

 

[CHSUB]

For great understanding, I’m posting a picture of my freshwater mangrove pot. This set up is organic potting soil capped with gravel and a betta fish. It only receives weekly WC with remineralizated Ro/di water and food for the betta. Today I noticed yellow on the leaves and added root tabs that contains iron. Imo this yellowing is a mineral deficiency, but not sure? Any thoughts?

 

[CHSUB]

… imo, J. Sprung could be considered the greatest contributor to the reefing hobby. His products and books have had unmeasurable impacts on my success and enjoyment in the hobby. I wrote him today about my yellowing “problem”, and as expected, he didn’t disappoint.

Hi Cory,

There are lots of forms of yellowing in the leaves of Red Mangroves, each with a different cause. I have seen what you illustrate with this photo and I have not attempted to figure out the cause. I do not think it is a sign of iron deficiency. The root tab won't hurt but I don't think it will make this go away. All I can say is that I have seen this edge of leaf yellowing before and don't know what it is caused by. It does not get worse- you may see it on other leaves, but the yellow does not expand much more than this.

A google search suggests that a potassium deficiency could be the culprit. You might try adding a pinch of "potash" fertilizer to the water. The root tab may supply this already---

Best Regards,

Julian

 

[CHSUB]

1 year picture update...

 

[CHSUB]

Hardware update: yesterday my reef light out…so replaced it with this. While it’s a disappointment that the light died, I’m happy with the new light as it allows much better top down viewing of the Mangrove Lagoon.

 

[CHSUB]

Have lived around mangroves for 30 years, but today i decided to really look at mangroves. I learned that mangrove trees drop a lot of leaves, so an occasional to a few yellow leaves are perfectly natural. However the young trees I observed didn’t have any yellow leaves, if new propagules have yellowing, imo, this is a problem. The yellowing I asked J Sprung about is different than any I observed today, this must be some kind of deficient.

 

[CHSUB]

Upgraded my mangrove lite today, more power and larger spread..

Amazon product ASIN B09C5MB6GB

 

[CHSUB]

Video I made in November 2024 documenting startup..

 

[CHSUB]

3 months tap root growth, now the size of my finger….

 

[Miami Reef]

Beautiful!

 

[CHSUB]

Recent video and hardware update.


Replacing my 100 ah battery with a 300 ah. Now I have at least a days battery power before I need to start the generator.

 

[CHSUB]

… imo, J. Sprung could be considered the greatest contributor to the reefing hobby. His products and books have had unmeasurable impacts on my success and enjoyment in the hobby. I wrote him today about my yellowing “problem”, and as expected, he didn’t disappoint.

Hi Cory,

There are lots of forms of yellowing in the leaves of Red Mangroves, each with a different cause. I have seen what you illustrate with this photo and I have not attempted to figure out the cause. I do not think it is a sign of iron deficiency. The root tab won't hurt but I don't think it will make this go away. All I can say is that I have seen this edge of leaf yellowing before and don't know what it is caused by. It does not get worse- you may see it on other leaves, but the yellow does not expand much more than this.

A google search suggests that a potassium deficiency could be the culprit. You might try adding a pinch of "potash" fertilizer to the water. The root tab may supply this already---

Best Regards,

Julian

Here is another response from “Inland Reef” guy to my yellowing question…after another informed response, I feel confident this is normal yellowing…

‘My guess could be a few things. The first is a nutrient deficiency (I use house plant guides to help me determine what based on leaves). second could be humidity which will cause yellowing and browning. The last could be just an old leaf. Looks like it’s one of the ones that’s been on the tree for awhile and mangroves naturally drop their leaves to help absorb the nutrients to produce more leaves’

 

[CHSUB]

Couple of pictures of coral growth…

 

[CHSUB]

To combat a growing aiptasia problem in February I added a couple of Berghia Nudibranchs. They were shockingly small. However this morning one was visible on the glass and WOW it is huge….obviously it is eating! Pictures are from February and today…

 

[CHSUB]

Video of feeding…no3@0 and po4@~.01.

Reef Roids and Red Sea AB+, cube of brine shrimp.

 

[CHSUB]

Recently I have been battling numerous pests including stone coral eat bugs, pumpkin flatworms, and Aiptasia. I added a Ocellated Dragonet, Sixline Wrasse and more Berghia to combat pests. Besides that, tank is doing well. Corals are growing well and pruning is required but a “good” problem. Tank is full now with 8 fish…

Thread 'Need advice on bugs!'
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/need-advice-on-bugs.1118334/